Auburn DE Raashed Kennion leaves team to ‘pursue politics’

Auburn defensive lineman Raashed Kennion won’t play for the Tigers this season but not for the reasons one might normally expect.

According to coach Gus Malzahn, Kennion has left the team to “pursue politics.”

"He's headed back home," Malzahn said Saturday after the team’s second scrimmage of fall camp, according to AL.com. "We wish him nothing but the best with that."

Kennion, a junior from Jacksonville, Florida, spent the previous two seasons in a reserve role with the Tigers. He started two games and recorded eight tackles (one for loss) serving as Carl Lawson’s backup last season.

The 6-foot-6, 237-pound Kennion was a three-star prospect in Auburn’s 2014 signing class. He picked the Tigers over eight other offers, including Cincinnati, Memphis, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee State and Pittsburgh.